Sports Editor

As I write this, I’m on vacation.
Can’t you just see the ocean, feel the sun, smell the suntan lotion? Wait, neither can I. Not yet, at least.

I’m leaving this afternoon for Florida - to see some family and relax a bit. I’m going to try to get in some golf and some time with the family before the craziness of football season begins.

I’ll be back July 9. So no entries until then. But don’t worry. I’ll fill you guys in on all the details of my trip. I know you can’t wait.

Have fun. Be safe on the Fourth of July.

I’ll see you in a week.

Sports Editor

Today is one of those days that I really love my job. Seriously.
News is flying in faster than I can catch it and going out even faster. It’s like drinking out of a fire hose. A really big, really powerful fire hose. But I love it. Seriously.

So far, the The Properties and Facilities committee of the Auburn University Board of Trustees unanimously approved the school’s new basketball arena. It’s a proposed $92.5 million endeavor that will seat 9,600 fans. It’s supposed to be done by 2010. And from all indications, it will be one of the best in the country. The board is supposed to officially approve it Friday, which means, it’s a done deal.
Now, the question is, what will it be called. I’ve heard a bunch of names, none that I’d say are “out of the question” but nothing concrete.

I’ll now take some suggestions. What do you think the new AU basketball facility should be called? Let me know. Seriously.

Speaking of 2010, Auburn AD Jay Jacobs announced today that the Tigers will play a home-and-home football series with Clemson in 2010 and 2011.
Clemson will come to Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2010 and AU will return the favor in 2011. That’s a good fit for the Tigers, well both Tigers. Auburn and Clemson have a lot of history. With the AU playing K-State and USF this year, West Virginia the next two years and then Clemson the two after that, Jacobs has done a good job of setting up BCS-caliber opponents.
Next, I’d like to see Auburn play a Big Ten opponent. Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State? Who wouldn’t love that? Seriously.

Sports Editor

Here’s my column to run in tomorrow’s paper. But since I know you can’t wait to read it, here it is ... 16 hours early.

As I’m sitting here at my desk, wondering what I want more, a million dollars or a hovercraft ... here are some other thoughts that crept into my head.
And, yes, I know if I had a million dollars I could by a hovercraft, but it’s not that kind of game. You can only chose one.
Hmmmmm ...

Presidential gift basket
I wonder what President Bush is going to do with the tiny, tiny, tiny swimsuit the Auburn University swimming and diving teams gave him Monday when visiting the White House.
Is he actually going to wear it? I mean, really. Do you think the leader of the free world is that confident?
Really?
And what does he do with all those gifts? Every time the Prez goes somewhere or has someone come over for, let’s say, a game of “guess how many people I get to tell what to do?” he gets a gift.
Monday, when he hosted 28 NCAA championship teams from the past two years, he made out like Tiger Woods’ new baby at a Nike convention.
The AU swim teams gave him some swimwear. The Auburn women’s track and field team hooked him up with a sweet Under Armor gortex jacket with his name on the front and a “W” on the sleeve and a track and field T-shirt ... for him to workout in.
The Vanderbilt women’s bowling team, which is responsible for the only NCAA title in the school’s history, gave the President a bowling ball. A bowling ball.
Now, all he needs is a plaid shirt made from the drapes in the Green Room, and he’s ready to join Dick Cheney’s bowling league.
Do you think he really uses any of the gifts he gets? I’d hope so.
And what about re-gifting? You think he tries to pawn off some of his gifts to others on their birthdays? Why not?
I just happened to be at J&M Bookstore in Auburn and saw these really nifty swimming trunks. Here you go. Happy Birthday.

The joys of fatherhood
Speaking of Tiger Woods’ daughter, Sam Alexis, who was born Monday, just hours after her dad finished tied for second in the U.S. Open, how long do you give her before she has a club in her hand? A week? A month?
Tiger was a year old when he started. So how long do you give Sam?
Seriously, I don’t think Tiger is going to be that kind of parent. What does she need to prove or conquer that he hasn’t already?
The only thing he’s going to want for her is happiness. And love. And health. And to sleep through the night. And to not color on the walls. And to listen to daddy when he tells her that eating chalk isn’t good for her. And to not have a fit in the middle of the cereal isle at Wal-Mart because she doesn’t want Cheerios, she wants the Dora the Explorer cereal with the marshmallow shaped backpacks and maps, failing to realize that it’s all just sugar that will rot her teeth out of her mouth, costing daddy thousands of dollars at the dentist to get work done that she will end up hating him for, especially the braces, because no guy wants to take a girl with braces to the prom, and if she can’t go to the prom, she will be the laughing stock of “The World Revolves Around Me” High, forced to live out the rest of her high school days sitting under the stairwell during lunch, reading Teen magazine, wishing she looked like all of those “pretty” girls who don’t have to wear braces and get guys named Gavin, while she’s stuck getting hit on by guys named Stewart with acne ... all because she didn’t want the Cheerios.
Tiger, congrats. And good luck.